Common Name:

General Information

Dalbergia nitidula is a deciduous shrub or small tree with stiff erect branches that form an open crown; it can grow 4 - 12 metres tall[, ]. The bole is often multi-stemmed, up to 20cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

The roots are said to be toxic[].

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa - Angola to Uganda and Tanzania, south to Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous woodlands, including Brachystegia woodlands, bushland, thickets and wooded grassland, at elevations from 300 - 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are mainly found in the wild growing in sany soils and on limestone escarpments[]. In cultivation they are likely to do well in a fertile, loam soil and a position in full sun[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Trees can be coppiced[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves are chopped, washed and cooked; pounded groundnuts are then added and then the whole is served with a staple such as rice[, ].

Medicinal

The roots are aphrodisiac and emetic[]. They are pounded and soaked in warm water, the liquid is then gargled to treat toothache. The liquid should not be swallowed since the roots are toxic[, ].
An infusion of the roots is drunk as a cure for malaria and coughs[]. The roots are pounded and made into a soup that is used as a treatment for epilepsy[]. (see notes just above![])

The leaves are chewed and applied to the site of a snakebite[, ]. The leaves are rubbed onto the skin as a cure for abscesses[, ].

The bark is used as a wound dressing and to treat ulcers[].

Several isoflavonoids, isoflavonoid-neoflavonoid dimers, pterocarpan-neoflavonoid oligomers and rotenoid glycosides have been isolated from the bark and heartwood[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is purplish brown. It is hard, very durable and termite resistant[, , ]. It is usually only available in small pieces, which limits its applications. It is used for building poles, pegs, fence poles, combs, clubs, tool handles and walking sticks[, ].
The wood is highly appreciated as firewood and for making charcoal[].

Propagation

Pods should be collected soon after maturing to avoid damage by insects. They are broken into one-seed pieces because extraction of seeds is difficult. These pieces are soaked in water for 6 hours before sowing. In general, germination is satisfactory and uniform[].
Seeds remain viable for a few months[].
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].
Softwood cuttings of many species, especially if taken from younger plants, will root in a well-drained, sandy medium in a closed case with bottom heat[].
Suckers[].

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